Bag-sealing devices



Dec. 18, 1962 B. GERSTMEiER ET AL 3,053,525

BAG-wS'EALiING CES 2, Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed April 8-, 1960 INVENTORS AT'TORN .S

United States Patent Office 3,68,625 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3,063,625 BAG-SEALING DEVICES Bernhard Gerstmeier, Wedel, Holstein, and Wolfgang Gradeuwitz and Eberhard Grotiropp, Hamburg-Lokstedt, Germany, assignors to P. Beiersdorf & (10., Aktiengeseiischaft, Hamburg, Germany Filed Apr. 8, 19%, Ser. No. 20,877 14 Claims. (CI. 53-19%) This invention relates to a device for sealing small packages such as bags, and more particularly to a bagsealing or tying machine for applying a length of pressure-sensitive tape about the twisted end of a bag and thus sealing the neck of the bag.

In known devices for performing similar functions the construction has been somewhat complex, and in many instances the bag must be moved in two different directions, one at right angles to the other, to complete the tying operation and remove the sealed bag from the machine. In such case the operating motions cannot be fluid and rapid as is the case in the present instance where the bag to be sealed with its contents is moved in the same direction through the machine.

Moreover in some instances the effort required to operate the machine varies considerably at different stages of the operation while it is of advantage to provide a machine such as the present one wherein the effort is more or less constant and continuous during the entire operation.

As illustrated, the device comprises a bag-typing machine wherein is provided a pivoted tape-applying member having a bifurcated end providing a recess in which the twisted neck of the bag is inserted over a strip of pressure-sensitive tape spanning the recess. The pivoted tape-applying member or applicator is then swung pivotally in the direction of the operator, and means are provided to press the tape about the twisted end of the bag, seal it, and sever the tape, and then the parts are returned to their original positions ready for a subsequent operation.

A severing knife is slidably mounted in the tape-applying member and is actuated or proiected at the proper time to cut the tape, a spring being employed to effect the severing movement. During the completion of the swinging movement of the tape-applying member for one operation the knife is retracted and cocked but held against movement until released during the subsequent operation. Cams are provided to control the cocking and release of the knife.

One object of the present invention is to provide a device for sealing small packages particularly the twisted ends of bags or the like, which device is simple in its design and reliable in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bagsealing device of the type described wherein the movement of the bags or other packages into and out of the sealing position will be rapid and smooth and will be in the same direction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device for sealing small packages particularly in the form of bags wherein a member for severing the tape is slidably mounted in a pivoted tape-applying member, and means are provided for cocking the knife and releasing and pro jecting it at the proper time to effect the tape-severing operation.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

- FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tape-applying device embodying our invention, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the parts in the position in which the severing member has been projected to sever the tape;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the parts in the position occupied at the end of the sealing operation;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the knife-guiding member;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the knife or severing member; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on line 99 of FIG. 3.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention there is shown a frame consisting of a base plate 10 and a pair of upstanding, substantially parallel, spaced side plates 11 and 12. The base'plate may be provided with a rib 13 (shown in dotted lines) and the side plates may be secured to this rib by screws 14. Also it will be desirable to provide a groove 15 at each side of the rib 13 within which the lower edges of the side plates rest.

Each of the side plates 11 and 12 is slotted, as shown at 16, to receive the axle 17 of -a spoked reel 18 adapted to support a supply roll of tape 19. The tape 19 is of the pressure-sensitive type, tacky on one side, and the free end thereof, as shown at 21, may be trained over a guide rod 22 secured between the side plates with the back or nontacky side of the tape lying upon the rod. At each end of the rod is provided a disklike member 23, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, these members lying against the side plates. Screws 24 may pass through the side plates through the disk members and into the rod 22 to hold the latter in place.

A pressure spring 25 bears against the guide rod 22, this spring being secured to the side plate 12, as shown at 26. The free end of the spring bears against the tacky side of the tape, pressing it against the guide rod 22, and holds the free end of the tape in place, preventing it from moving in a rearward direction after the completion of a sealing operation and after the portion wrapped around the bag end has been severed.

A tape-applying member 28 is pivoted between the side plates upon trunnions 29, this member extending in both directions from its pivot. As illustrated, the applying member consists of a blocklike member having a body portion of substantially rectangular form and bifurcated at its upper end to provide spaced arms 30 and 31 between which is a recess 32 which, as will be hereinafter explained, receives the twisted neck of a bag which is to be sealed. On the arm 30 may be provided a bowed pressure spring 33 secured at 33 to the member 28, and an applying spring 34 is secured at 35 to the member 28. The arm 31 of the latter may be slotted, as shown at 35, to permit movement of the spring 34 from the fullto the dotted-line position shown in FIG. 3.

A knife-guiding member 40 (FIG. 7) of substantially U-shaped form is secured to the arm 31 of the tapeapplying member 28 by fastening members 41 passing through openings 42. This member is provided with a recess 43 and between the base of this recess and the arm 3% is mounted the severing knife 44 having an inverted V-shaped sharpened edge 45. This knife is adapted, as shown in FIG. 5, to be projected at the proper time from the recess 43 between the members 30 and 40 to sever the tape as will be hereinafter explained.

As described, the knife is slidably mounted with respect to the tape-applying member 28 and is secured to the upper end of a carrier rod 46. This rod is slidably mounted in a bore 47 in the member 28, and the latter is pro- 3 vided with a slot 48 through its rear edge, which slot communicates with the bore 47 and provides a guideway for pins 49 secured to the carrier rod 46 in order to prevent the latter from tending to rotate.

The carrier rod 46 is provided with a head or stop member 50 below the main portion of the member 23, and projecting from the member is a pin 51 upon which is mounted a roller 52 which in cooperation with cam members, as will be hereinafter explained, serves as a cam follower to cock and hold the knife in cocked position. The member 5% is provided with an upwardly projecting shoulder 53.

The tape-applying member 28 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 55 having a bearing boss 56 which serves as a bearing for rotatably mounting a pin 57 secured to an L-shaped latch member 58 having a laterally directed arm 59. The pin 57 may be held in place by means of a ring 60. At the lower end of the latch member 58 is a cam roller 61 which, as will be hereinafter explained, is controlled by cam means mounted on the frame to turn the latch member 53 so as to engage the laterally directed end 59 with, and disengage it from, the shoulder 53 on the member 50.

A resilient cam member 62 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is secured at one end to the side plate 12, as shown at 63 and a second cam member 64 (FIG. 4) is secured to the side plate 11, both of which cam members cooperate with the roller 61 to control the position of the latch member. It will be noted from FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 that the cam member 62 is positioned adjacent the path of the roller 61 at the end of its operative movement while the member 64 is engaged by the roller 61 at the other end of the move ment of the tape-applying member.

Also cam members 67 and 68 are secured upon the side plate 12 to control the movement of the severing member 44. As illustrated, the cam member 63 is fixed wardly, and is held in this position by the spring member 25. The severing member or knife 44 will be held in cocked or retracted position by engagement of the roller 52 on the knife carrier 46 with the lower edge of the cam 67. In the operation of the device, if a bag is being sealed, the twisted end of the bag is movedforwardly or toward the right as shown in the drawings over the upper edges of the side plates 11 and 12. When the bag end reaches the position indicated at 82 on FIG. l 'with the parts in position shown in this figure, it will be guided into the recess 32 of the tape-applying member 28, the bag end being in engagement with the tacky side of the tape. The tape will be forced into the recess and doubled about the end of the bag, as shown in FIG. 3. During the movement of the bag end into the recess 32, the spring member 34 will be sprung forwardly, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, to permit the bag end to enter the recess, and the return of this member to full-line position, as shown in this figure, will force the extreme free end of the tape into sealing engagement with that portion lying against the spring member 33, as shown in FIG. 3. It will also be understood that when the bag end is forced into the recess 32, the spring member 33 may also give slightly to permit the passage of the end of the bag.

During continued movement of the bag along the upper edge of the side plates i1 and 12 the member 23 will be swung about its pivot 29. When this member reaches the position shown in FIG. 3, it will be noted that the roller in a sharp stroke by the spring 73 to sever the tape, as

but the cam member 67 is adjustable in an arcuate slot to the position shown in FIG. 6 and the curved end 79 69 in the side plate 12, this cam member being guided by pins 76 secured to the cam member and a screw 71 is adapted to be tightened against the side plate to hold the cam in an adjusted position. The cam member 68 cooperates with the roller 52 on the pin 51 to cock the knife adjacent the end of an operative stroke of the tape-applying member and the cam member 67 cooperates with this roller to hold it in cocked position at the beginning of an operative stroke of the mechanism and release it at the proper time so that the knife may be projected to sever the tape. The cam member 67 is provided with a beveled portion 67 adjacent its forward end which tends to return the member 28 to its starting position shown in FIG. 1 where the knife-guiding member abuts the disks 22 and 25, as shown in FIG. 1.

The projection of the knife is effected by means of a compression spring 73 bearing against the head 58 at its upper end and resting at its lower end upon a spring support 74 secured to the arm 55.

A wiping member 75 of resilient material is pivoted at 76 between the side plates 11 and 12 and a spring 77 secured at one end to the side plate 12, as shown at 78, and at its other end to the member 75 tends to urge this member in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in the drawings, the position of this member in the rest position of the parts being shown at FIG. 1 wherein its upper rounded end 79 lies against the front face of the tapeapplying member 28. A tape-supporting member $9 of arcuate form is secured to the rear face of the member 28, this member, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, serving to engage the nontacky side of the tape and support it during the operation of the device. A stop pin 81 is provided upon the side plate 12 which, as shown in FIG. 6, abuts the roller 52 to limit the swinging movement of the tapeapplying member 28.

Normally the parts of the device stand in the position shown in FIG. 1 in which the end of the tape 21 lies in a position spanning the recess 32 with its tacky side upshown in FIG. 5, the roller 42 now being engaged with the lower or outer surface of the cam 68.

Continued movement of the bag end forwardly over the upper edges of the side plates swings the member 2 of the wiping member 75 will have passed upwardly over the spring member 34 to. engage the back or nontacky side of the adjacent ply of the tape and press the tWo plies together against the arm 30 and the tape-supporting member 80, thus completing the sealing operation.

Upon continued movement of the bag end the latter will reach the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6 where it has passed out of the recess 32 and where it will be released by the member 75 so that it may be drawn from the machine, all of the preceding operations being effected by movement of the bag end in the same single direction.

During the movement of the member 28 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6 the roller 52 will ride upon the lower edge of the cam 68. As this edge of the cam is eccentric to the pivot 29 of the member 28, the roller 52 will be moved d0wnward ly to retract the severing member to its original position where it does not project beyond the edge of the guide member 40, as shown in FIG. 6. Thus the severing member will be cocked ready for a subsequent operation.

During the latter part of the swinging movement of the member 28 the roller 61 on the latch member 58 (which has previously been in an inoperative position) will strike the cam member 62, and the latch member will be swung about its pivot 57 to move the arm 59 thereof in a position above but slightly spaced from the upper surface of the stop shoulder 53. When the bag end has been removed from the slot 32 and the member 28 thereby released, the spring 73 pressing the roller 52 against the outer edge of the cam 68 will initiate a return swinging movement of the member 28 in a counterclockwise direction. As the roller 52 rides downwardly on the lower edge of the cam 68, the knife carrier 46 will move outwardly to a slight extent until the shoulder 53 on the head 50 is engaged by the arm 59 of the latch member which will then temporarily hold the knife in cocked position with the spring 73 compressed.

As the member 28 swings in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in FIG. 3, the roller 52 will swing below the cam 67, and upon continued return movement of the member 28 the roller 61 will engage the cam merrber 64 upon the side plate 11 and the latch member 58 will be swung about its pivot pin 69 to disengage the arm 59 from the shoulder 53. This will occur about the time that the roller 52 reaches the beveled edge 67" of the cam 67. The roller will then be engaged by this beveled edge of the cam 67 and the member 28 will be given a final impetus toward its normal position shown in FIG. 1 where the guide member 40 rests against the disks 22 and 23. The device is now ready for a further operation.

It will be noted that the movement of the bag end is continuous and in the same direction until it is withdrawn from the machine and that during the first portion of an operative movement the knife is held in cocked position by the lower edge of the cam 67 until it is released and projected outwardly by the spring 73, this projection being limited by the outer edge of the cam 68. This cam serves to withdraw the knife to its cocked or retracted position at which time the movement of the member 28 will be checked by the pin 81 and also released by the withdrawal of the bag end from the slot 32. The knife will then b held in cocked position by the arm 59 of the latch member 58 and also in a position in which the roller 52, on return movement of the member 28, will ride below the cam 67. When the member 28 reaches a point adjacent its initial position, the latch member will be moved to an inoperative position and the knife will then be held in cocked position by the lower edge of the cam 67'.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is:

l. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member. oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, resilient means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end, a severing means movably mounted on said tape-applying member and spring pressed toward a p ojecting position to sever the tape, means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess, and cooperating means on the frame and severing means to hold the latter in retracted position and release it for projection by its spring during movement of the tape-applying member by the bag.

2. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame t receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, resilient means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end, a severing means movably mounted on said tap applying member and spring pres"ed toward a projecting position to sever the tape, means on the frame for sup-.

' porting a supply roll of tape wih an end portion of the tape overlying said recess, cooperating means on the frame and severing means to hold the latter in retracted p sition and release it for projection by its spring during movement of the tape-applying member by the bag, and to cock said severing means for a subsequent operation by its spring during continued movement of the tapeapplying member in the same direction.

3. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end, a severing means movably mounted on said tape-applying member and spring pressed toward a projecting positlon to sever the tape, means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess, cooperating means on the frame and severing means to hold the latter in retracted position and release it for projection by its spring during movement of the tape-applying member by the bag to cock said severing means for a subsequent operation by its spring during continued movement of the tape-applying member in the same direction, and a latch member to engage and temporarily hold the severing means in cocked position during at least a part of the return movement of said tape-applying member.

4. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said 'machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to -receive the end or" a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end, a 'severing means movably mounted on said tape-applying member and spring pressed toward a projecting position to sever the tape, means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess, cooperating means on the frame and severing means to hold the latter in retracted position and release it for projection by its spring during movement of the tape-applying member by the bag to cock said severing means for a subsequent operation by its spring during continued movement of the tape-applying member in the same direction, a latch member to engage and temporarily hold the severing means in cocked position during at least a part of the return movement of said tapeapplying member, and means on the frame to move the latch member to holding position.

5. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end, a severing means movably mounted on said tape-applying member and spring pressed toward a projecting position to sever the tape, means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess, cooperating means on the frame and severing means to hold the latter in retracted position and release it for projection by its spring during movement of the tape-applying member by the bag to cock said severing means for a subsequent operation by its spring during continued movement of the tape-applying member in the same direction, a latch member to engage and temporarily hold the severing means in cocked position during at least a part of the return movement of said tapeapplying member, means on the frame to move the latch member to holding position, and to a position to release said severing means.

6. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end,

a severing means movably mounted on said tape-applying member and spring pressed toward a projecting position to sever the tape, means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess, cooperating means on the frame and severing means to hold the latter in retracted position and release it for projection by its spring during movement of the tape-applying member by the bag to cock said severing means for a subsequent operation by its spring during continued movement of the tape-applying member in the same direction, a latch member to engage and temporarily hold the severing means in cocked position during at least a part of the return movement of said tape-applying member, and means on the frame to move the latch member to holding position at the end of the operative movement of said tape-applying member, and to move it to a position to release said severing means adjacent the end of the return movement of said tape-applying member. a

7. A machine for sealingbags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper'edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end, a severing means movably mounted on said tape-applying member for movement to retracted and projected positions, spring means urging said member to projected position to sever the tape, cam means on the frame to engage a part of said severing means and hold the latter in retracted position and thereafter release said means for projection by its spring during movement of the tapeapplying member by the bag end and during a continuation of said movement to retract said severing means to an inoperative position, and means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess.

8. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tapeapplying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end, a severing means movably mounted on said tapeapplying member for movement to retracted and projected positions, spring means urging said member to projected position to sever the tape, cam means on the frame to engage a part of said severing means and hold the latter in retracted position and thereafter release said means for projection by its spring during movement of the tape-applying member by the bag end and during a continuation of said movement to retract said severing means to an inoperative position, latch means to engage said severing means and latch it in said last-named position, and means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess.

9. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a re cess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end, a severing means movably mounted on said tape-applying member for movement to retracted and projected positions, spring means urging said member to projected position to sever the tape, cam means on the frame to engage a part of said severing means and hold the latter in retracted position and thereafter release said means for projection by its spring during movement of the tape-applying member by the bag end and during a continuation of said movement to retract said severing means to an inoperative position, latch means to engage said severing means and latch it in said last-named position, means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess, and a further cam member on the frame to disengage said latch means and restore said severing member to the control of said cam means.

10. A machine for sealing 'bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, means carried by said member to press the tape against the bag end, a severing means movably mounted on said tape-applying member for movement to retracted and projected positions, spring means urging said member to projected position to sever'the tape, cam means on the frame to engage a part of said severing means and hold the latter in re tracted position and thereafter release said means for projection by its spring during movement of the tape-applying member by the bag end and during a continuation of said movement to retract said severing means to an in operative position, latch means to engage said severing means and latch it in said last-named position, means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess, and a further cam member on the frame to disengage said latch means adjacent the end of a return stroke of said tape-applying member and restore said severing means to the control of said cam means.

ll. A device as in claim 8 wherein said latch member is mounted upon said tape-applying member.

12. A bag-sealing machine comprising a frame, a tapeapplying member pivotally mounted on the frame having a recess at the upper end thereof to receive the neck of a bag to be tied and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape having a pressure-sensitive face with a portion of the end of the tape bridging said recess, a severing knife movably carried by said tape-applying member, releasable means holding said severing knife in a retracted inoperative position in a positive manner, spring means to urge said severingknife to a projected position, and means on the frame to engage said holding means and release said severing knife during movement of the tape-applying member to permit the spring to project said knife to sever the tape.

13. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end in said recess, means on the frame for supporting a supply roll of tape with an end portion of the tape overlying said recess, spring-pressed pressure members carried by said tape applying member on each side of said recess to receive the bag end therebetween, one of which is moved out of said recess by the introduction of the bag end therein and thereafter moved inwardly by its spring means to engage the free end of the tape and fold it over the bag end, a severing member reciprocably carried by said tape-applying member at one side of said recess, means for moving said member to and holding it in a retracted inoperative position, andmeans controlled by movement of the tapeapplying member to release said severing member and move it to projected position.

14. A machine for sealing bags or like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a tape-applying member oscillatably mounted by a pivot on the frame and having a recess therein adjacent the upper edge of the frame to receive the end of a bag to be sealed and to be moved about its pivot by movement of the bag end, resilient means carried bysaid member to press the tape against the bag end, a severing means movably mounted on said 3,068,625 9 10 of the tape overlying said recess, said resilient means car- References Cited in the file of this patent ried by said member to press the tape against the bag end UNITED STATES PATENTS comprising a spring-pressed member secured to the tapeapplying member and lying in said recess to fold the free 2738747 De rrick 1956 end of the ta 6 Over the ba end 5 2,787,102 Kleuger P 1957 P g 3,015,925 Kreuger Ian. 9, 1962 

